Swiss to launch Niš and Dubrovnik service


Swiss International Air Lines will commence new seasonal services from Zurich to both Niš and Dubrovnik during the 2025 summer season. Flights to the Croatian coastal city will be taken over from its subsidiary Edelweiss and run up to five times per week starting April 17 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays with a 112-seat Embraer E190 aircraft wet-leased from Helvetic Airways. Details can be viewed here. On the other hand, flights to Niš will launch on June 30 and operate twice per week, on Mondays and Thursdays, until August 21. It will mark the carrier’s return to the southeast Serbian city after more than three years. Flights will be operated by the 134-seat Embraer E195 E2 aircraft from Helvetic Airways.  Further details can be found here. Swiss first launched year-round operations to Niš in April 2017, which ran until January 2020. It also maintained a limited number of holiday flights in December 2020 and January 2021. In Dubrovnik, the airline previously flew seasonally from Geneva in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Swiss' Chief Commercial Officer, Heike Birlenbach, said, "We are constantly striving to tailor our flight program even more closely to our customers’ wishes and needs. To this end, we work unceasingly to steadily further develop our range of air services and expand these where appropriate. So we’re delighted to provide our customers with an even more attractive and varied air travel offer for next year’s summer timetable period. The new Swiss service from Zurich to Niš is aimed primarily at travellers seeking a comfortable air travel option for visiting friends and relatives in the region. Swiss will also commence service to Dubrovnik on April 17, 2025. The route is being taken over from sister carrier Edelweiss, and will be served with up to five weekly flights throughout the summer schedules until the end of October". Up until now, Swiss has had a limited network in the former Yugoslavia, serving only Belgrade, Ljubljana, Pristina and Sarajevo. It will become the only airline operating out of Niš to offer passengers a business class product.

For its part, Niš Constantine the Great Airport said in a statement, “Niš Airport continues to bring good news when it comes to air traffic development in Serbia. Negotiations are ongoing with other airlines, and, as is already widely known to the general public, Niš Airport has entered the next stage of its development, which involves further modernisation and a number of construction projects”. The airport had previously said it would focus on attracting new carriers and launching new routes in 2025, after it saw its traffic decline throughout this year. Earlier this month, Serbia's Minister for Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, said discussions were underway with several low cost airlines regarding the establishment of a base at Niš Airport. In addition, the Minister noted discussions were ongoing with Air Serbia for the introduction of a new service from Niš, which would not be subsidised by the state, as opposed to the existing seven which are maintained as part of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:04

    Finally good news from Nis!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:08

    When will the tickets go on sale?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      They are on sale

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:15

      They are way to expensive for INI market, also seems like you can’t book a connecting flight.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:17

      ABsolutely you can!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:18

      Calm down, do you think the tickets are % 10 months in advance? You can. I checked FRAZRHINI.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:33

      @Anonymous 09:15
      Of course you can book connections to the whole of Swiss's network.
      They are launching this flight primarily to feed their hub, not just for Nis and Zurich O&D traffic.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:24

      With this arrival in Zurich at 21.55? Even Monday one with arrival at noon is not the best option... This is O&D route, as their manager stated in the article. Few will transfer at Zurich.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:52

      People from Nis already have hub connectivity through Istanbul flights. Its 2 weekly, year round.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:00

      And through Belgrade, too. But it would help if any of those was at least 4-5 pw.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous11:09

      I don't think the BEG flights connected onto much. Do they?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:05

      I think they mainly "connect" via Sofia.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous12:07

      Yes, because from SOF you can really reach distant markets outside of Europe...

      Delete
    12. Anonymous12:20

      People over there need access to big markets inside Europe, for a start. Distant markets outside of Europe are something Belgrade should take care of.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous12:24

      They currently have nonstop access to Germany, Austria, Greece, Malta, Turkey, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Montenegro. More than respectable.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous12:44

      It's not more than respectable, especially if you know we all pay for most of those flights each year. Something we didn't have to do only some 7-8 years ago, with a similar result in offer and pax numbers. I really can't respect that, especially not "more than respect"...

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:23

    Finally ! Someone is interested for Nis .

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:30

    Swiss seems to go after people from the south who otherwise would travel to Europe and beyond via BEG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      I believe so too.
      Seems like a smart strategy. The time that it takes to drive or take the bus from Niš to BEG is spent instead flying to ZRH and having a massive network of destinations to the rest of Europe and America available.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:36

      No, the Swiss Chief Commercial officer tells you exactly what type of passengers they are going after. You just have to read the article.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:37

    I can't believe Swiss does not fly anywhere else in Croatia. Not even Split.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:10

      easyJet is too strong in Geneva and Zurich is more or less fully covered by Croatia Airlines

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:25

      Part of some OU-LH Group deal, I'm sure.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:51

      Conspiracies again.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:52

      Most likely

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:06

      Not conspiracy, just a feeling. It may be wrong of course.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:46

      A feeling, čuj to!!!

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:48

      there is also Edelweiss to Split, there is no LX to ZAG maybe as there was no LH to LJU in the JP era

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:53

      The same there is no JU at MUC and there is no LH at TGD. Yes, it's the feeling something is agreed out of the paper, of course.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:38

    They've expanded so much in the region over the past few years, and they're a great airline

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:41

      Have they? Once upon a time they used to fly to places like Zagreb, Banja Luka....

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:46

      They had a major ex-Yu expansion in 2014 and all the routes they launched were discontinued.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:52

      I wonder if this is part of a bigger strategy for Swiss in the Balkans? Adding Niš and Dubrovnik to their summer network could be a sign of things to come.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:11

      What things to come? Niš is being resumed and Dubrovnik is just a swap over from Edelweiss.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:25

      They are slowly expanding in the region. Maybe in 2026 they start Zagreb and Podgorica.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:04

      its a swap from Edelweiss to Helvetic if you are precise

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:10

      They launched the sales of Zadar service while you discuss if there are things to come...

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:23

      No its a swap from WK to LX, operated by 2L

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:41

    Good news for both

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:45

    ANALiticar needs urgent medical attention. He claimed whole year that INI is undermined by the government and now this?? And on top of that, Swiss doesn't serve ZAG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:48

      I can't stop laughing when reading any comment about that guy.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      No one will fly. Swiss is expensive and Niš is poor. They have barely 'leba da jedu. Koma.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:56

      😂

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:16

      It is amazing how reality always proves him wrong. Always.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:00

      Sooner than later Austrian and Lufthansa will follow.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:32

      Lufthansa hardly but Dolomiti could. Or EW.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:56

      Sure, Air Dolomiti is completely focused on our region, unlike Lufthansa

      Delete
    8. Anonymous18:27

      @12;56
      Cost structure wise, Lufthansa mainline is too expensive and too much capacity for INI market. Dolomiti or even EW could work. Dolomiti for example 2 pw MUC INI.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous20:26

      But LX is part of LH group. They don’t need EW for DUS or Air Dolomiti for MUC. This is designed for long haul connectivity so they don’t need multiple LH hubs serving INI competing against each other.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous20:41

      Dream on about longhaul connectivity This is designed to bring home
      Gazda Mladen from Schweiz for sommer vacation

      Delete
    11. Anonymous21:06

      If that was the case, they would not be running full service Swiss branded flights with business class!

      Delete
    12. Anonymous21:14

      First, Swiss is not a point to point airline, too expensive for that. Secondly, there are not that many Serbs from the Nis region who actually migrated/work in Switzerland. They are mainly in Sweden, France, Netherlands and Germany. However, there many Serbs who are also in the US and Canada so may want a more direct flight rather than flying through BEG.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous11:09

      :D:D its ok to dream

      Delete
    14. Anonymous11:12

      they employ Helvetic because they have 112 seaters, smallest Edelweiss aircraft has 174 pax

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:50

    The great news is you can connect onto a huge network.

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  10. Anonymous09:50

    Hope they will consider extending INI flights.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:50

    Fantastic news

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:53

    The news about Niš Airport’s ongoing negotiations with other airlines is good to hear. It sounds like 2025 could be a transformative year for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      Yes an LCC base would be a game changer.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:43

      Really hope that happens.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:54

    Happy to see Swiss putting more focus on the former Yugoslavian market! With only four destinations previously, crazy in my opinion considering the huge diaspora from the region in Switzerland

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      Well they use Edelweiss on many routes because in essence they are low yielding or they are leisure destinations.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:51

      Actually, even Edelweiss has very limited presence.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:29

      The diaspora is not from INI region.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10:02

    What aircraft type did Swiss used to use before when they flew to INI?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:03

      Mostly A220s but they used all sort of equipment.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:04

      Thanks

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:03

    This is honestly a bit of a joke. How can one and a half months of operations be considered 'good news'? I’ve read there’ll only be 15 flights total from INI, yet they’re announcing it like it’s going to be a year-round service. Sure, it’s better than nothing, but I wouldn’t call it a real success or make such a big deal out of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:04

      Baby steps

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:06

      Should be in news flash section, not main news.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:09

      ^ Why? It involves two routes - Dubrovnik and Nis and one is throughout the season/

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:10

      New FR flight from ZAG to Italy were in main news so why not this one?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:11

      He is just triggered. Ignore.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:30

      Oh, we were worried about you health, thank God you're prevailed. Of course it's a small news, because it's not about Zagreb. If that would be a Zagreb route, would be a huuuge success.
      Don't worry, they will prolong the route, this is just beginning.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:42

      Only aviation site where someone is bothered by the placement of aviation related news.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:08

      Yes, rare place where someone would be seething that some city is getting flights. Nuts.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous10:03

    Airlines like Swiss are already announcing their summer network and we have airline here making big changes to the winter network 2 days before it starts...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:42

      +100

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:51

      When you have a fleet of 100 aircraft it is much easier to plan your network.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:01

      That´s a good one @anon 10.51 :D

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:50

    Good to see a new route from Nis and that they are negotiating with other airlines.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous10:51

    The more routes to the region the better.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12:01

    So two legacy and two LCCs at Nis. Not bad for a small airport.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous12:01

    They should really consider Banja Luka. There is demand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:01

      And more transfer potential.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:05

      Didn't Edelweiss fly to BNX?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:09

      They scheduled the flights, put tickets on sale and then cancelled them.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous12:17

    Too little too late, we should read this news back in 2021. Three years of doing nothing can't be saved by 2 weekly service for less than 2 months. INI management needs to get replaced ASAP, let's have someone interested in aviation over there who will shake things up and allow people from the southern Serbia to use their own airport instead of Bulgarian one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:20

      Yes, in the middle of the pandemic was the time you expected to read this news.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:21

      they had all kind of routes, they didnt work out. Its easy to blame it on the mgmt how about it about the weak market?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:01

      2004-2015: average pax numbers some 25k
      2016: 124k
      2017: 331k
      2018: 351k
      2019: 422k
      2020: 154k
      2021: 146k
      2022: 389k
      2023: 448k

      Can you please point me out when that weaking of the market happened?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:02

      *weakening

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:40

      thanks to expensive PSO. How many routes left from W6 and FR?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:15

      Each domestic route in Croatia is under PSO for more than 10 years. It is more than logical also Nis to have it.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous19:18

      sure but you are avoiding the answer of the question

      Delete
    8. Anonymous19:36

      Where is the answer on this question?

      Can you please point me out when that weaking of the market happened?

      Regarding to W6 or FR you need to ask them the questions why it is so.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous20:30

      because they ddint work for them.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous20:54

    Impressive YU network out of CH:
    LJU ZAG PUY ZAD SPU BNX SJJ BEG INI DBV TIV TGD OHD SKP PRN
    15 Airports incl A350s to PRN

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous20:55

    Better twice per week and just two months than nothing ti Niš...

    ReplyDelete

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